A mid-air collision involving two U.S. Navy jets occurred during an air show at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho on Sunday, though all four crew members successfully ejected from the aircraft, according to officials. The incident involved two EA18-G Growlers from the Electronic Attack Squadron 129, based in Whidbey Island, Washington. Cmdr Amelia Umayam, spokesperson for Naval Air Forces with the U.S. Pacific Fleet, stated that the aircraft were performing an aerial demonstration at the time of the crash. The incident is currently under investigation.
Cmdr. Umayam confirmed that all four crew members ejected safely from both jets. Base officials reported that the crew members were in stable condition following the incident. According to Kim Sykes, marketing director with Silver Wings of Idaho, which helped to plan the air show, no one at the military base sustained any injuries. Sykes emphasized the primary concern was the safety of all individuals involved.
As per information available with TahirRihat.com, the base was immediately placed on lockdown following the collision. Authorities cancelled the remainder of the air show as a safety precaution. Videos recorded by spectators and shared online depicted four parachutes opening in the sky as the aircraft descended towards the ground, approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Boise. The EA-18G Growler is a specialized variant of the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet, equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems.
An eyewitness, Shane Ogden, recounted filming the two jets as they approached each other. Ogden’s video captured the moment of impact, showing the two aircraft spinning in tandem as the crew members ejected and deployed their parachutes. He stated that the planes then fell together, erupting in a fireball upon impact, while the crew members drifted to the ground nearby. Ogden explained that he began filming with the expectation of the jets separating, but instead captured the collision and subsequent events. He departed shortly after the crash to avoid interfering with emergency responders.
Organisers described the air show as a celebration of aviation history and a showcase of modern military capabilities, featuring flying demonstrations and parachute jumps. This year’s event was headlined by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squadron and spanned two days. The National Weather Service reported favorable visibility at the time of the crash, with winds gusting up to 29 mph (47 kph).
Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety expert, noted the remarkable nature of both crews successfully ejecting from their planes. He speculated that the unique manner in which the planes collided and remained connected in midair before falling may have provided the opportunity for ejection. Guzzetti contrasted this with typical midair collisions, where crews often lack the chance to eject. He also suggested that the incident appeared to be a pilot issue rather than a mechanical malfunction, emphasizing the challenges of formation flying and the precision required to avoid such incidents. Guzzetti added, “It’s really striking to see. It looks like they struck each other in a very unique fashion to cause them to remain intact and kind of stick to each other, and that very well could have saved them.”
John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems and another aviation safety expert, stated that air show pilots are among the most skilled, but the margin for error is minimal. He noted the demanding nature of air show flying and expressed relief that everyone involved was able to escape safely. Cox emphasized that air show flying “has very little tolerance,” demanding high levels of skill and precision.
The Gunfighter Skies event marked the first air show at the base since 2018, when a hang glider pilot died during a performance. In 2003, a Thunderbirds aircraft crashed while attempting a maneuver, though the pilot was able to steer the plane away from the crowd and eject safely moments before impact. The air show industry has been actively working to enhance safety, especially after a 2022 incident in Dallas where two vintage military planes collided, resulting in six fatalities.
According to John Cudahy, president and CEO of the International Council of Air Shows, the average number of deaths at U.S. air shows has decreased since 1991. Cudahy stated that between 1991 and 2006, there were an average of 3.8 deaths per year at US air shows. That rate has improved, and since 2017, there have been an average of 1.1 deaths per year, even including the 2022 crash. There were no US air show deaths in 2023 or 2025, and a spectator hasn’t been killed at an air show in the US since 1952.
Cudahy claims that “Safety-wise, we’ve enjoyed really an unprecedented term of few accidents.” Investigators may be able to quickly determine the cause of Sunday’s crash, given that both crews survived and can provide firsthand accounts of the events leading up to the collision. The Navy will lead the investigation, which may limit the amount of information released to the public compared to civilian crash investigations.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks involved in aerial performances, even with highly skilled pilots and stringent safety measures. The focus remains on ensuring the continued safety of both participants and spectators at air shows.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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